Pensioner weeps while in court for killing his passenger in a romantic drive through Wales after crashing when he lost control of his 1950s Daimler and veered into oncoming traffic
- Marilynn Kerrigan died when Andrew Newton’s car crashed into another head on
A pensioner’s romantic countryside spin in a vintage Daimler ended in tragedy when he lost control on a bend and killed his female companion.
Andrew Newton, 69, had driven 150 miles from his home to visit a beauty spot in North Wales, picking up Marilynn Kerrigan on the way.
Magistrates were told the friends had spent the day at Llyn Crafnant in Snowdonia in May last year.
Newton crashed his 1960s Daimler V8-250 on the A470 while driving Ms Kerrigan back to her home in Dolwyddelan, Conwy.
He sobbed as he pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving after losing control on a sharp bend and veering into oncoming traffic, where he collided head-on with a Renault Captur.
Andrew Newton, 69, had driven 150 miles from his home to visit a beauty spot in North Wales, picking up Marilynn Kerrigan (pictured) on the way
Newton crashed his 1960s Daimler V8-250 (similar to the one pictured) on the A470 while driving Ms Kerrigan back to her home in Dolwyddelan, Conwy
Ms Kerrigan died from multiple injuries at the scene, despite resuscitation attempts by 999 crews.
Newton, of Cossall, Nottingham, had to be cut free by firefighters, and was taken by air ambulance to the Royal Stoke University Hospital. He suffered a broken ankle, metatarsal, left wrist, right eye socket and ribs, and had his jaw broken in two places. The couple in the Renault suffered significant injuries including a broken wrist, fractured ribs and internal bleeding.
Investigations concluded the fatal crash was due to ‘driver error’, with no other contributory factors. Newton, who had held a full driving licence for 50 years, told the Llandudno court that he was unable to explain why he had veered across the carriageway and could not remember the layout of the road where the crash had happened.
When asked to explain why he veered over to the other side of the road, Newton replied: ‘I can’t.’
Following her death, Ms Kerrigan’s family said: ‘It is with great sadness we announce the sad loss of our beloved sister and aunt in a tragic accident.
Ms Kerrigan died from multiple injuries at the scene when the car crashed, despite resuscitation attempts by 999 crews
‘She was always a very loving and generous person, who was enjoying life to the full and will be greatly missed by her family and all the many friends who knew her.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are also with the other people involved in this terrible tragedy.
‘We, her family, are devastated and will find it hard to come to terms with her loss.’
Newton received an interim driving ban until his sentencing at Caernarfon Crown Court on September 8.
Death by careless driving carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.
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